Opinion: Tribal and state governments need to get out of gaming business

With another bbattle is brewing over Class III gaming compacts,
Guy C. Clark, the chairman of Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico, has a recommendation for tribes and the state:

The whole battle also hinges around accurate reporting of income and revenue sharing from the tribes. A report by the Legislative Finance Committee in 2013 revealed that financial reports from the tribal casinos are “self-reporting” and not subject to normal state accounting scrutiny, so what they actually offer in “free play” and what they actually make in their gambling racket is anyone’s guess.

The whole casino system is designed to deceive and addict its patrons, and “free play” is just another hook to snag the unwary gambler.

It’s time for the government (state and tribal) to get out of the predatory gambling racket.